Reference no: EM133871174

Question

Guyvard, you did a great job breaking down the pros and cons of authenticated scanning and highlighting how unauthenticated scans can lead to a false sense of security. Credential misuse or privilege escalation vulnerabilities are another attack vector that ties into your post. Even though authenticated scans require careful management of credentials, they are crucial because many critical vulnerabilities exist after login. Attackers often focus on weak internal access controls or overly permissive user permissions once they gain a foothold in the system (NIST SP 800-53, AC-6). Without authenticated scanning, issues like users having unnecessary administrative rights or legacy accounts with excessive privileges would likely go undetected. These vulnerabilities create serious pathways for lateral movement and privilege escalation attacks inside the network. In environments like TRex's, especially where smart devices and sensitive data are involved, identifying these internal weaknesses through authenticated scans is vital for effective risk management. You're right that aligning with frameworks like ISO 27001, NIST, and OWASP strengthens their security posture and ensures compliance with industry best practices. Overall, your post emphasizes why authenticated scans should be a standard part of TRex's monthly ConMon activities, and considering insider threat risks strengthens your point.